Synthesis of highly active rhodium-doped SrTiO₃ powders in Z-scheme systems for visible-light-driven photocatalytic overall water splitting

Two-step excitation photocatalytic systems called Z-scheme systems are attractive to achieve overall water splitting under visible light irradiation. The low activity of SrTiO₃:Rh as a H₂-evolving photocatalyst suppresses the overall efficiency of the Z-scheme system composed of SrTiO₃:Rh modified with a Pt or Ru cocatalyst, BiVO₄, and an Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ electron mediator. In this study, improvement of efficiency for water splitting over the Z-scheme system has been achieved through the preparation of highly efficient SrTiO₃:Rh photocatalysts by hydrothermal and polymerizable complex methods. It has also been revealed that excess amounts of Sr are necessary to obtain highly active SrTiO₃:Rh photocatalysts. Apparent quantum yields of the Z-scheme systems were improved from 0.4% to 3.9-4.2% at 420 nm when SrTiO₃:Rh prepared by HT and PC methods was used as a H₂-evolving photocatalyst instead of that prepared by a solid state reaction. The efficiency of the improved Z-scheme system for solar energy conversion was determined to be 0.1%.